System for electrically transmitting signals.



E. HERMSDORF. SYSTEM ron ELBGTRIGALLY TBANSMITTING SIGNALS. APPLICATION FILED 00T.10, 1911.

1,035,009,` Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

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@ggf/ZW @5w fmm E. HBRMSDORF. SYSTEM FOR ELBGTRIGALLY TBANSMITTING SIGNALS. APPLIoATIoN FILED ooT.1o, 1911.

1 ,035,009. Patented Aug. 6,1912.

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Fa/mg@ EWALD HERMSDORF, OF BRUNSWICK, GERMANY.

SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICALLY TRANSMITTING SIGNALS.

Application filed October 10, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Serial No. 653,809.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EWALD HERMsuoRr, director, subject of the Duchy of Brunswick, Empire of Germany, residing at 35 Elmstrasse, Brunswick, Germany, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems for Electrically Transmitting Signals, of which the following 1s a specification.

My invention relates to unprovements 1n syste'ns for electrically transmitting slgnals from or to movable bodies, and more particularly to signaling apparatus for trains, elevators, hoisting machines such as overhead traveling cars, trolley cars, etc.' Apparatus of this class such as are now 1n use are unsatisfactory in operation, because the contact between the movable and stationary parts cannotI be made in a simple and reliable way.

The object of my improvements is to provide a system in which the difficulty of providing a reliable contact is avoided.

V'Vith this object in View my invention consists in providing the connection between the relatively movable parts over a spark gap which is adapted to be traversed by currents of high voltage.

For the purpose of explaining the invention several examples embodying the same have been shown in the accompanying drawings, in which the same letters of reference have been used in all the views to indicate corresponding parts.

In said drawings-Figure 1, is a front view of a locomotive and a diagrammatical view of apparatus for providing high volt-- age currents, a spark gap over which the locomotive and the said apparatus are connected, and a signaling device, Fig. 2, is a partial side View of a locomotive showing a modied form of the pole carried by the locomotive for the spark ga to increase the duration of the signal and igs. 3 and 4, are diagrammatical views of further modifications of the signaling system.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the signaling system consists of an electric circuit which includes an apparatus a for producing an electric current of high voltage, such for example as an induction coil, a condenser, Leyden jars, or the like,

an indicating apparatus F, and one or more spark gaps consisting of a pole or poles carried by each of the relatively movable parts, and electric conductors b and b1.

In the example shown in Fig. l the ap` paratus a for producing current of high voltage, the indicating apparatus I", and the pole Z13 are mounted on therstatonary part, that is on or adjacent to the track, while the pole b4 is provided on the movable part, that is on the locomotive c, and in such a position as to pass along and in close proximity to but out of contact with the pole b3. Over the conductor b1 and the metallic parts of the locomotive c, and the Wheels g, the circuit is connected to ground at the point a: and at the rails respectively. Therefore, when the locomotive passes with its pole b* along the pole b3 the circuit is closed over the ground at m, the conductor b1, the apparatus a, the conductor b, the signaling apparatus F, the spark gap b3, b, the locomotive o, the wheels g, arid the rails z, so that an electric discharge takes place between the poles b3, b4.

The signaling apparatus F is constructed in such a way as to be operated by electric discharges of the character referred to. In the example shown it consists of a spark gap arranged to act on a coherer a which energizes a galvanometer e or relays. The coherer energizes the relays or galvanometer e whenever the pole b* is brought in position to permit an electric discharge between the poles b3 and b4.

If it is desired to increase the duration of the electric discharge over the poles b and b, and thereby the duration of the signal, either both of the poles or one of them may be elongated in the direction of the travel of the vehicle.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the pile b which is mounted on the locomotive is constructed in the form of a rail.v

In Fig. 3 I have shown an example in which the circuit provided on the stationary part is provided with two poles b5 and b", while the movable part carries a bridge piece b2* which is adapted to form two spark gaps with the poles Zni and 66. The said bridge piece may also be divided into two sections 67 and 58, as is shown in Fig. 4. Between the sections b1 and 68 a second signaling apparatus D may be interposed, Thereby a signal may also be produced on ythe movable partI or locomotive c. Instead of the galvanometer e an acoustic or optical signaling apparatus may be provided.

I claim herein as my invention:

1. In a system for electrically transmitting signals between relatively movable parts, the combination with a source of high potential energy, of a signaling apparatus, a pole on each of said parts, said poles being disposed in position to pass each other in close proximity -but without contact, and electrical connect-ions including said source of high potential energy, signaling apparatus and poles into a circuit which is adapted to be closed by said poles when in close proximity to each other. 4

2. In a system for electrically transmitting signals between relatively movable parts, the combination with a source of high potential energy, of a signaling apparatus, a pair of poles provided on one of said parts, a bridging pole provided on the other one of said parts and disposed in position to pass said pair of poles in close proximity thereto but out of contact therewith and to bridge the said pair of poles, and electrical connections including said source of electric energy,

signaling apparatus and pair of poles into a circuit which is normally open at said air of poles and adapted to be closed by said bridging pole.

3; In a system for electrically transmitting signals between relatively movable parts, the combination with a source of high potential energy, of a main signaling apparatus,`a pair of poles provided on one of said parts, a bridgin pole comprising two sections and provide on the other one of said parts and disposed in position to pass' said pair of poles in close proximity theretol but out of contact therewith, and to bridge the said pair of poles, a subsidiary signaling apparatus connected to both of said sections of the bridging pole, and electrical connections including said source of electric energy, main signaling apparatus and a pair of poles into a circuit which is normally open at said pair of poles and adapted to be closed by said brid ing pole. i

4. In a system or electrically' transmitting signals between relatively movable parts, the combination with a source of high potential energy, of a pair of poles provided on one of said parts, a bridging pole comprising two sections and provided on the other one of said parts and disposed in position to pass said pair of poles in `close proximity thereto but out of Contact therewith and to bridge the said pair of poles, a signaling apparatus connected to' both of said sections of the bridging pole, and electrical connections including said source of electric energy, and 1pair of poles into a circuit which is norma ly 'open at said pair of poles and adapted to Vbe closed by said bridging pole.

5. In a system for electrically transmitting signals between relatively movable parts, the combination with a source of high potential energy, of a signaling apparatus comprising a spark gap, a coherer energized by said spark gap, and indicating means controlled by said coherer, a pole on yeach of said parts, said poles being disposed in position to pass each other in close proximity but without contact, and electrical connections including said source of high potential energy, signaling apparatus and poles into a circuit which is adapted to be closed by said poles when in close proximity toA each other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set s my4 hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EWALD HERMSDORF. ,Witnesses WILHELM LEHRKE,

JULiUs SECKEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for tive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

